The ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement revealed an increase in racism in the United States. For decades, blacks in America have received treatment by law enforcement far more severe than their white counterparts. Today, with the fact that nearly everyone carries a camera, this deplorable situation can no longer be hidden. FOX Noise and the Republican Party deny the facts of a serious situation once again.

The unforgivable situation in Flint, Michigan, cannot be ignored either. Another Republican Governor has harmed his state’s residents in an effort to cut costs. Far worse than this basic fact, is that he ignored this serious situation for nearly two years.

Governor Rick Snyder ordered a change in Flint’s water system. He diverted the city’s main water supply from Detroit to the Flint River early in 2014. Immediately the city’s residents complained about the odor and taste of the liquid coming out of their taps. This untreated water was so horrible that in summer 2014 General Motors announced that they would no longer be using water from Flint; it was corroding their parts

After months of complaints, and bottles of brown liquid, Snyder finally ordered an investigation. The water had been contaminated from lead in the city’s aging pipes.

In late 2015 water and water filters were delivered to Flint’s residents, and Snyder finally admitted that he made a serious mistake.

Flint is Detroit’s seventh largest city. The majority of its population is black, and 40 percent of the city’s residents live in the poverty level. Protests continue as Flint’s citizens are demanding that all pipes in the city be replaced. At present Snyder’s administration is only considering the replacement of pipes which deliver water to homes and business.

As one protestor said; ‘this would not have happened in a white, affluent community.’ She is not wrong. In our cities today the poverty level is increasing as ethnic communities are ignored. In Detroit the city has shut off the water supply to poor, mostly black communities, because they cannot pay their water bills.

Republican governors have instituted policies of austerity, and greatly harmed their state’s people. Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, and Texas are experiencing hardships created by decisions from their state’s politicians.

There is a concentrated effort by the GOP to prevent many minorities from an opportunity to vote in elections. Many of the better jobs in our cities have been outsourced, and jobs available to millions of our nation’s people pay so poorly that they must work two or three jobs to support their families. Most of this group is composed of blacks living in our larger cities.

Many of the rights of minorities gained during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s are being ignored. It’s time for the American people to stop their denial of a growing travesty in our nation. Diversity is America. Racism is unforgivable and ignorant.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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